O'FALLON, Ill. – Third-ranked McKendree University women's hockey (14-6-0, 7-3-0 WMCH) split with 12th-ranked University of Massachusetts this last weekend at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex. The Bearcats took game one on Friday behind a 2-0 shutout before falling to UMass on Saturday in the latter match up, 4-2.
Friday, January 16 | vs. UMASS | W, 2-0
In the first game No. 3 McKendree started off strong, freshman forward, Klaire Essex secured a goal only 1:25 into the first period. She was assisted by senior forward Jayna Barnden, earning her fifth of the season, and junior forward, Abigail Jeffers got her eighth assist of the season. They got off 11 shots in the first period, which would only prove to be the start of what would be an active day on the offensive end of the ice. The second period slowed down a little bit with each team trading one penalty; the Bearcats also added 13 more shots on the opposition. The third saw senior forward, Janaya Laqua put away her sixth goal of the season coming off the stick of a graduate student forward Brittney Kambeitz, who earned her 10th assist of the season and in her first collegiate game freshman defense, Addison Uhrig got an assist leading to the scoring effort.
Senior goaltender, Rachel Staresinic wasn't letting anything past as she faced all 27 shot attempts from the Minutemen side.
GOALS
P1 | #93 Klaire Essex (5) via #15 Jayna Barnden (5) via #3 Abigail Jeffers (8)
P3 | #14 Janaya Laqua (6) via #11 Brittney Kambeitz (10), #95 Addison Uhrig (1)
Saturday, January 17 | vs. UMASS | L, 4-2
In the second game, No.12 Massachusetts-Amherst came out the gate hot, quickly going up 2-0 in eight minutes of play. Countering that effort was senior defese, Lilia Brown who got her third goal of the season. She was assisted by junior defense, Charlotte Cloutier, she earned her fourth assist of the season, junior forward, Julia Koski got her third assist of the season. However, the period would end 1-3 after another UMass goal. This would lead to Staresinic replacing sophmore goaltender, Makenna Collins, she would go on to finish the game out for McKendree. The Minutemen would go up another goal in the second off a power play goal. The Bearcats would get their second goal of the game towards the end of the third period off the stick of Uhrig as the puck found its way through multiple defenders and slid into the bottom right corner. Cloutier added her fifth assist of the season and Barden got her sixth of the season.
Collins saved one shot in her time in net. Staresinic finished the game with 10 saves off 11 shots.
GOALS
P1 | #73 Lilia Brown (3) via #25 Charlotte Cloutier (4), #40 Julia Koski (3)
P3 | #95 Addison Uhrig (1) via #25 Charlotte Cloutier (5) via #15 Jayna Barnden (6)
UP NEXT
Jan. 22 | vs. Liberty University 2:00 p.m. McKendree Metro Rec Plex
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